This post is also available in:
Deutsch
Swimming with sea turtles is one of the most popular activities in Moalboal and can easily be done as part of a tour that also includes the Sardine Run. Our honest take on the Sea Turtle Watch in Moalboal, plus all the key information, is in this post.
In this guide
Location & how to get to the Sea Turtle Watch Moalboal
If you think swimming with sea turtles requires a long trip or even a boat ride, you’re very much mistaken. The sea turtles are right at the main stretch of Panagsama Beach, about 5–10 meters off the shore. In general, the turtles are easy to spot. Just go where the biggest crowd is.
Address: Panagsama Beach, Moalboal
Tour fee for swimming with turtles in Moalboal
Swimming with the sea turtles always includes a visit to the sardine school as well. The usual price is 500 PHP per person, though some operators charge 1,000 PHP or more, which in our view is far too much. To be completely honest, you don’t really need a tour at all, because the sardines and turtles are only a few meters off the pier at Panagsama Beach. Experienced snorkelers / swimmers can therefore get there entirely on their own, without a guide.
What does speak for a tour, though, is the life jacket and the swim ring, which serves as a base. That way less confident swimmers can rest and have a “base” to return to. It’s also quite possible that the operators and tour guides on site will at least shoo you away from the sea turtles if you’re there without a guide. The guides are also happy to film with the GoPro for you.
Turtle Watch fee (guided tour): Between 500 and 1,000 PHP per person. The fair price without being “ripped off” is 500 PHP. In general, we wouldn’t pay a single cent more for this outing.
Where to book: We recommend simply booking the Turtle Watch outing on site. The trip is offered on every corner. Resorts and accommodations also offer swimming with sea turtles.
What’s included in the price:
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Guide
- Life jacket
- Snorkel set if needed
- Swim ring (for storing things and as a starting point for diving down)
What is there to experience when swimming with sea turtles in Moalboal?
The Turtle Watch outing is mass tourism at its finest, with no regard for nature or the animal. A crowd of 10–30 people usually gathers around the turtles, all waiting for a selfie with the poor animal. Sometimes the crush is so bad that the turtle is almost trampled.
We strongly doubt that the turtle is there of its own free will, because on the one hand there’s almost a guarantee you’ll see one, and on the other, no marine animal would probably voluntarily seek out busy Panagsama Beach with its noisy dive boats.
In general, we suspect these are less truly wild turtles than animals that are deliberately placed there. We could also be completely wrong about this, but that’s how it seemed to us.
Is the Sea Turtle Watch Moalboal worth it?
Swimming with sea turtles in Moalboal is, in our view, a typical Instagram thing. If you’re expecting untouched nature and chance encounters with a sea turtle, you’ll be disappointed. This is mass tourism that almost certainly also has an impact on the local environment, and we even suspect the animal is deliberately placed there. If you want a typical Instagram photo, you’ll get one at the Turtle Watch in Moalboal – but the experience itself wasn’t all that thrilling for us.
Tip: The Sardine Run and Sea Turtle Watch in Moalboal are closely linked, and both activities are included in the same tour. In our separate post you’ll find detailed information and our honest take on the Sardine Run in Moalboal.
The best time for swimming with sea turtles in Moalboal
In general, the time of day doesn’t matter much. There’s a lot of commotion around the turtles all day long. Where there are clusters of people in the water, there’s usually a sea turtle too.
Still have questions about the Turtle Watch in Moalboal? Feel free to leave a comment – we’ll definitely get back to you!